Tamper-indicating closure, container and combination thereof

ABSTRACT

A one-piece molded closure of plastic which threads onto a container with a fairly specific exterior configuration and provides a combination such that when the closure is unthreaded, a tamper-indicating ring becomes separated from the lower end of the closure skirt. The indicating ring or band is joined to the closure by frangible bridges and a flexible stop ring is formed within the band and extends inwardly and upwardly when the closure is applied to a container finish. The container finish has a first radial bead and an inwardly tapering side wall surface therebeneath which leads to an abrupt, inwardly extending ledge. The flexible stop ring rests on the tapered surface, when the closure is applied. After closure removal, the stop ring and band drops below the ledge indicating that the closure has been removed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a one-piece, molded plastic, or thelike, closure that may be threaded onto the finish or neck of acontainer, and in which a tamper-indicating band is joined to the bottomof the closure skirt by a series of frangible bridges. An inwardly andupwardly turned flexible, stop band is molded inside the indicator bandand in combination with a radial bead on the container finish willresist removal of the closure without rupture of the frangible bridges.

Tamper-indicating closures are not new and one recently patented examplecan be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,918, issued to Jean Grussen on July26, 1983. In this patent a threaded closure carries a hold ring that isjoined to the bottom of the cap skirt by a series of breakable tabs andthe hold ring has an inside diameter that is at least equal to theoutside diameter of the cap skirt. A plurality of lock lugs supported onthe ring are inclined upwardly and inwardly and are intended to hookbehind a collar or mating ring on the container neck to prevent the holdring from being lifted off the container neck when the cap is unscrewed.An unbreakable flange is provided between the cap skirt and the ring andserves as a hinge for the cap when it is unscrewed.

Other tamper-indicating closures that thread on the containers are madefairly simple, but these tamper-indicating rings generally requirecooperating, specially designed, means on the container.

Some other tamper-indicating systems have been used in which a frangibleband is formed at the bottom of the closure skirt and requires theactual destruction of the band before the closure can be unscrewed.These also may require special ramps and ledges to be formed on thecontainer shoulders or necks. The problem with these systems is thatonce the band is removed and discarded, it may not be readily apparentthat the closure has been unscrewed.

Much of the same can be said for the systems that use heat shrunk orstretch bands that engage the closure and the container. Furthermore,heat shrinking adds an additional step to the sealing process andrequires special equipment beyond the normal threaded closure applyingmachines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a screw type cap ofplastic with a tamper-indicating ring or band that is carried at thelower end of the skirt of the closure with frangible bridges forming theconnection. The removal of the closure results in the indicating bandbeing severed from the closure and the band is moved to a lower positionon the neck and is prevented from being returned to its, as applied,position.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a containerwhose finish, below the external threads, is formed with an inwardly anddownwardly tapering side wall which leads to an abrupt, horizontal ledgesuch that when an indicating band is severed from a closure, on removal,the band falls below the ledge and cannot be returned. The closure isformed with internal threads in the skirt and at the bottom of the skirta band or ring of about the same external diameter as the cap is formedwith frangible bridges joining the band to the skirt. Within theindicating band an inwardly extending flexible stop ring is formedintegral with the indicating band. A particular finish on the containerprovides a pair of radial ledges which extend outwardly below thethreads on the container neck. These ledges are vertically displacedrelative to each other and are joined by an inwardly tapering wall whichis adapted to form the surface on which the stop ring will be seatedwhen the closure is applied. The stop ring prevents removal of theclosure without the separation of the indicating band from the closureskirt.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the annexed sheets of drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cap and container combination of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cap of the invention in invertedposition illustrating a post forming operation thereon;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, side elevational view of the cap and containerfinish combination of FIG. 1 with the cap in partial section andthreaded onto the container finish;

FIG. 4 is a view, similar to that of FIG. 3, after the cap has beenpartially removed;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the lower edge of the cap asit is applied over the container finish;

FIG. 6 is a partial, sectional view similar to that of FIG. 5 showingthe position of the lower edge of the cap when in its fully appliedposition on the container finish; and,

FIG. 7 is a partial, sectional view of the indicating band and containerfinish after the cap has been removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a container 10having a finish or neck 11. Over the finish 11 is shown a closuregenerally designated 12. The closure 12 is formed of a thermoplasticmaterial molded as a single unit and comprises a generally disc-shapedtop 13 with a cylindrical depending skirt portion 14. Below the skirt14, as shown in FIG. 1, there is provided an indicator band 15. The band15 is generally cylindrical and has essentially the same externaldiameter as that of the skirt 14 of the closure 12. The band 15 isjoined to the lower end of the cylindrical skirt by a plurality offrangible bridges 16. In the specific embodiment as shown in FIGS. 2-4,there are eight frangible bridges 16. In addition, there are providedfour spaced stops 17 which are formed integral with the band 15 and areprimarily for use when the closures are molded so as to permit thepushing of the molded closure from the mold die without compressing thefrangible bridges 16, yet permit the removal of the closure withattached indicator band 15. The band stops 17 are not attached to thelower skirt of the closure in any way. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4,the cylindrical skirt 14 of the closure 12 is provided with internalthreads 18. The threads 18 cooperate with externally formed threads 19on the finish or neck of the container 10.

Within the inner dimension of the indicator band 15 there is anintegrally formed annular stop ring 20, and when the cap is initiallyformed, it will take the configuration shown in FIG. 2. With the stopring in the inverted form shown in FIG. 2, the stop ring will extendinwardly and upwardly relative to the indicator band with an includedangle of approximately 30°. As perhaps can be best seen in FIGS. 3 and4, the stop ring 20 is integrally formed to the indicator band 15 and.Iadd.is attached to the interior thereof by a curved hinge portionwhich extends inwardly and downwardly from the band 15. The hingeportion is constructed and arranged such that the lower end of the stopring 20 is spaced from the inside surface of the band. The stop ring 20has a free end 21 of somewhat thicker configurations than the thicknessof the connection between the ring and band 15. Immediately after theclosure 12 is molded in the shape illustrated in FIG. 2, the closurewill be rotated about its central vertical axis, parallel to thecylindrical skirt, and at the same time the stop ring 20 will be engagedby a beveled rotating wheel 22. The wheel 22 is shown as being mountedon a shaft 23, it being understood that the shaft 23 will be driven byany suitable drive means. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the closure12 is depicted as being positioned on a rotating pad 24 carried at theupper end of a shaft 25. With the closure being rotated on the pad 24and the wheel 22 rotating in engagement with the stop ring 20, the stopring will be forced to bend downwardly and inwardly in the invertedposition of the cap, as shown in FIG. 2, with the stop ring being pushedthrough an angle of approximately 120° from the "as-molded" angle. Thisrolling-in of the stop ring is done fairly soon (within seconds) afterthe molding of the closure and the stop ring 20 will then maintain thisrolled-in position since the cure time for the plastic will not havebeen exceeded before the rolling-in is accomplished.

The finish 11 of the container 10, as best seen in FIG. 3, has aradially outwardly curved bead 26 formed therein which extends outwardto an extent somewhat greater than the external dimensions of thethreads 19. The bead 26 has a lower ledge 27 which may be termed abreaker ledge. As best seen in FIG. 3, when the closure 12 is threadeddown over the container finish 11, the stop ring 20 will have its freeend 21 positioned beneath the upper bead 26 and either in engagementwith or closely spaced beneath the breaker ledge 27. The finish 11 ofthe container also is formed with a second radial ledge 28 which isbelow the bead 26 and its breaker ledge 27. The ledge 28 extendsinwardly as well, but has its outer, largest diameter surface, connectedto the upper ledge 27 by an annular, downwardly and inwardly taperedsurface 29. As can be readily be seen when viewing FIG. 3, the free end21 of the stop ring 20 is beneath the breaker ledge 27 of the bead 26.The moving or unthreading of the closure 12, as illustrated in FIG. 4,results in the breaking of the bridges 16 since the stop ring 20 cannotmove above the bead 26. Thus, after the bridges 16 are broken, theindicator band 15, with the stop ring 20, will fall down and rest on atransfer bead or ledge 30 formed at the lower end of the finish 11 ofthe bottle 10.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 5-7, the function of the variousledges will be explained. As shown in FIG. 5, the closure with its skirt14 and indicator band 15 is moving into place on the container finish11. The closure is made of a flexible plastic such that the stop ring 20can pass down over the annular bead 26 formed on the external surface ofthe container finish 11. Once the stop ring has passed the bead 26, itwill be positioned generally as shown in FIG. 6, with the upper free end21 of the stop ring 20 below the breaker ledge 27 of the bead 26. Also,the free end 21 of the stop ring will be in engagement with the taperedsurface 29 of the container finish and be held in close proximity to thebridges 16. When the threaded closure is removed from the containerfinish, the stop ring 20 will be prevented from passing back over thebead 26 by the engagement of the end 21 of the stop ring with the ledge27 of the bead 26. The bridges 16 are frangible and are of insufficientstrength to resist breakage when the closure is threaded off thecontainer finish.

As the threaded closure is being threaded off the container finish, someof the eight bridges 16 will break first and as the continued movementof the closure upwardly occurs, the band 15 and its stop ring 20 issomewhat cammed down by the slope of the tapered surface 29 to a certainextent until such time as all of the bridges are severed, at which timethe band 15 and the stop ring 21 will fall to the position illustratedin FIGS. 4 and 7. When the band 15 has been totally severed from theclosure skirt 14, it is virtually impossible to ever return the band 15to its initially applied position as shown in FIG. 6, since the upperfree end 21 of the stop ring 20 will engage the ledge 28, as illustratedin the dotted position in FIG. 7. Thus, it can be seen that the closure,once it has been removed from the container finish or neck, and even ifreapplied, the band 15 will be separated from the cap and will indicatethat the closure has been tampered with or removed. It is impossible torestore the band to its initial position by any normal manualmanipulation.

Since the band 15 and the stop ring 20 are flexibly joined, the flexurein the bridge between the two members will permit the end 21 of the band20 to move inwardly and assume the general position illustrated in FIGS.4 and 7. Since the lower ledge 28 is significantly higher than thetransfer bead of the container, and the indicating band 15 will normallyrest on the transfer bead 30 after the closure has been tampered with, afairly large gap will result and the tampering of the closure will beclearly and positively indicated.

While the particular container illustrated is a plastic container, itshould be apparent that the principles of the invention could be equallyapplied to a glass or even a metal container having the requisiteconfiguration of the axially spaced beads and ledges to permitapplication of a closure but prevent removal without disturbing theindicator band that is connected to the bottom of the skirt of theclosure by frangible bridges.

The foregoing description is by way of the example and is not intendedto limit the scope of the invention to any extent greater than that setforth in the appended claims.

.Iadd.We claim:.Iaddend. .[.1. A screw cap for closing the open upperfinish of a container comprising, a generally disc-shaped top with anintegral, cylindrical, depending skirt, a generally cylindricalflexible, indicating band attached to the annular bottom of said skirtby a plurality of circumferentially spaced, frangible bridging members,a full annular stop ring formed integrally with the indicating band andattached to the interior thereof, said stop ring being positionedinwardly and upwardly with respect to the interior of said indicatorband, the upper edge of said stop ring being of sufficient thickness tospan any spaced between a container finish to which the closure isapplied and the indicating band when in undisturbed, sealing position onthe container, and said stop ring adapted to engage beneath an elementof the container and prevent the ring from passing the container elementafter assembly of the closure on a container..]. .[.2. A screw cap forclosing the open upper finish of a container comprising, a generallydisc-shaped top with an integral, cylindrical, depending skirt, agenerally cylindrical flexible, indicating, band attached to the annularbottom of said skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced,frangible bridging members, a stop ring formed integrally with theindicating band and attached to the interior thereof, said stop ringbeing positioned inwardly and upwardly with respect to the interior ofsaid indicator band, the upper edge of said stop ring being ofsufficient height and thickness to span any space between a containerfinish to which the closure is applied and the bridging members when inundisturbed, sealing position on the container, and said stop ringadapted to engage an element of the container and prevent the ring frompassing the container element after assembly of the closure on acontainer..]. .[.3. In combination, the screw cap of claim 2 and acontainer having an open neck; the container element comprising anannular bead on the container finish, and said bead being positioned forbeing engaged from beneath by the free edge of the stop ring when thecap is placed over the open neck of the container..]. .[.4. Incombination, the screw cap of claim 2 and a container having an openneck finish, wherein said container finish has two radially extendingbeads with the beads axially displaced with respect to each other andwherein the upper bead is said element on said container and the base ofthe upper bead is joined to the peak of the lower bead by a downwardlyand inwardly tapering surface, and said upper bead being positioned forbeing engaged from beneath by the free edge of the stop ring when thecap is placed over and closing the open neck of the container..].
 5. Thecombination of claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.12 .Iaddend.wherein said stop ringsurrounds and is in engagement with said tapering surface, whereby uponmovement of the closure relative to the container neck an amount tosever said bridges, said stop ring will be cammed downwardly and fall bygravity to a lower area of the container.
 6. The combination of claim 5wherein said lower bead is of sufficient outer diameter relative to theinner diameter of said stop ring and integral indicator band as toprevent the repositioning of said indicator band to its originalassembled position prior to fracture of said bridges. .[.7. A containerfor receiving a threaded closure having a severable indicating band atthe lower edge indicating the removal of the closure by the separationof the band from the closure and positioning of the band well below theoriginal position prior to removal, comprising a first radiallyextending bead having an external diameter that is larger than theinternal diameter of a stop ring within said indicator band, said beadhaving a gradually increasing, outwardly tapering top surface and anabrupt inwardly extending lower ledge, a second bead positioned belowsaid first bead a distance that is substantially equal to the height ofsaid indicating band, said second bead being connected to the base ofsaid ledge on said first bead by a generally tapered surface thatincreases in diameter with height from the lower ledge and having aninwardly extending abrupt bottom surface, said first ledge adapted topermit the application of the closure with its indicating band thereoverbut not the removal without severance, and said tapered connectingsurface forcing the severed band to fall below the bottom of said secondbead and prevent return of the band to its initial assembledposition..]. .Iadd.8. A screw cap for closing the open upper finish of acontainer comprising a generally disc-shaped top with an integral,cylindrical, depending skirt, a generally cylindrical flexible,indicating band attached to the annular bottom of said skirt by aplurality of circumferentially spaced, frangible bridging members, afull annular stop ring formed integrally with the indicating band andattached to the interior thereof, said stop ring being positionedinwardly and upwardly with respect to the interior of said indicatorband, an integral downwardly curved ring portion extending radiallyinwardly and axially downwardly from the inside portion of said band tosaid stop ring, the upper edge of said stop ring being thicker than thelower end which is connected to said curved hinge portion, said hingeportion being constructed and arranged such that the lower end of saidstop ring is spaced from the inside surface of said band and said upperedge of said stop ring is capable of flexing into contact with the innersurface of said band during application of said closure to saidcontainer, and said stop ring adapted to engage beneath an element ofthe container and prevent the ring from passing the container elementafter assembly of the closure on a container. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. Thecombination set forth in claim 8 wherein said hinge portion is thinnestat a point spaced from the inside surface of said band such that saidstop ring flexes about a point spaced from said band. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. In combination, the screw cap of claim 8 and a containerhaving an open neck finish, wherein said container finish has tworadially extending beads with the beads axially displaced with respectto each other and wherein the upper bead is said element on saidcontainer and the base of the upper bead is joined to the peak of thelower bead by a downwardly and inwardly tapering surface, and said upperbead being positioned for being engaged from beneath by the free edge ofthe stop ring when the cap is placed over and closing the open neck ofthe container. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. A screw cap for closing the openupper finish of a container comprising a generally disc-shaped top withan integral, cylindrical, depending skirt, a generally cylindricalflexible, indicating band attached to the annular bottom of said skirtby a plurality of circumferentially spaced, frangible bridging members,a full annular stop ring formed integrally with the indicating band andattached to the interior thereof, said stop ring being positionedinwardly and upwardly with respect to the interior of said indicatorband, the upper edge of said stop ring being thicker than the lower end,and a container having an open neck finish, wherein said containerfinish has two extending beads with the beads axially displaced withrespect to each other and wherein the base of the upper bead is joinedto the peak of the lower bead by a downwardly and inwardly taperingsurface, and said upper bead being positioned for being engaged frombeneath by the free edge of the stop ring when the cap is placed overand closing the open neck of the container. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A screwcap for closing the open upper finish of a container comprising agenerally disc-shaped top with an integral, cylindrical, dependingskirt, a generally cylindrical flexible, indicating band attached to theannular bottom of said skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced,frangible bridging members, a stop ring formed integrally with theindicating band and attached to the interior thereof, said stop ringbeing positioned inwardly and upwardly with respect to the interior ofsaid indicator band, the upper edge of said stop ring being ofsufficient height and thickness to span any space between a containerfinish to which the closure is applied and the bridging members when inundisturbed, sealing position on the container, and said stop ringadapted to engage an element of the container and prevent the ring frompassing the container element after assembly of the closure on acontainer, and a container having an open neck finish, wherein saidcontainer finish has two radially extending beads with the beads axiallydisplaced with respect to each other and wherein the upper bead is saidelement on said container and the base of the upper bead is joined tothe peak of the lower bead by a downwardly and inwardly taperingsurface, and said upper bead being positioned for being engaged frombeneath by the free edge of the stop ring when the cap is placed overand closing the open neck of the container. .Iaddend.